From “SNL” Newcomer to Comedy Icon: The Evolution of Mike Myers

When Mike Myers first stepped onto the iconic stage of “Saturday Night Live,” he wasn’t the confident leading man we know today. In a recent episode of Vulture’s “Good One” podcast, Myers candidly admitted that he was “scared shitless” upon witnessing the immense talent of his fellow cast members.

“Phil Hartman. I mean, Dana Carvey. [Kevin] Nealon, Jan Hooks, who I also worship. You know, it was unbelievable,” Myers revealed, expressing his admiration for his seasoned colleagues.

Prior to his “SNL” success, Myers honed his comedic chops with the renowned Chicago improv troupe Second City, where his iconic Wayne Campbell character first gained recognition. Reflecting on his debut performance as Wayne, Myers recalled a moment of pure magic when the audience’s response was akin to “a jet taking off.”

Just two weeks later, fate intervened when Myers received a call from none other than Lorne Michaels, the creator of “Saturday Night Live,” inquiring about his Wayne character.

Despite his eventual rise to stardom on “SNL,” Myers admitted to living in England before joining the show in 1989 and never having watched it due to conflicting priorities with his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs games.

“‘Saturday Night Live’ was on, but I never watched it because I had one of those top-loading VCRs,” Myers confessed. “And it was on at exactly the same time as the Toronto Maple Leaf game, so I could only tape one thing. And of course, I watched the Toronto Maple Leafs. So I didn’t watch it for those years.”